Device for holding- horse-reins



I. A. & F. DUNWORTH.

Rein-Holder.

Patented Feb. 16. 1858- AM. PHUTO-UTHO. C07 N.'(. (USBURNE'S PRUCESS.)

I. A. DUNWORTH AND F. DUNWORTH, OF DOBBS FERRY, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING HORSE-REINS.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that we, I. A. DUNWORTH and F. DUNWORTH, of Dobbs Ferry, in the county of lVestchester and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Implement or Device to be Attached to Vehicles for Holding Horse-Reins; and we do iereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1, is a vertical central section of our improvement. Fig. 2, is a front view of ditto.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

The object of this invention is to provide a permanent hold-fast for the reins, one that may be connected to the reins, and not at all interfere with the proper managementthereof while the horse or horses are being driven and at the same time holding the reins as soon as they are dropped from the hands of the driver.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct our invention we will proceed to describe it.

A, represents a case formed of metal or other suitable material. This case may be attached either to the inner or outer side of the dash-board B. The case A may be of semi-cylindrical form and of any suitable dimensions. VVithin the case A, two elastic tubes C, C, are placed, the lower ends of said tubes being permanently attached to the bottom of the case A. The upper ends of the tubes C, extend a trifle above the upper end of the case A, and each tube has a buckle D, attached, by which the tubes are secured to the reins E, one to each. The tubes C, are to be sufficiently stiff to hold the reins E, E, when they are not in the hands of the driver, and at the same time they are sufficiently elastic to yield or give so that the reins will have the requisite degree of play while the horse or horses are being driven, it being understood that the reins are permanently attached to the tubes, being only detached therefrom when the horse or horses are removed from the 19,354, dated February 16, 1858.

vehicle. The tubes C, may be formed of india rubber. This will probably be the material used although other elastic substances may be employed. Metal. spiral spring may also be used, but the india rubber tubes we consider preferable. Solid india rubber strips may be used, but the tubes possess a greater degree of elasticity with a requisite degree of strength and are consequently preferable.

In Fig. 1, the case A, is attached to the inner side of the dash board, and the case extends a trifle above its upper edge. The way in which the driver operates is plainly shown in Fig. 1, the red lines showing the position of the tubes C, C, and reins E, E, when the horse or horses are being driven, and the black lines showing the reins while being held by the tubes and the reins free from the hands of the driver.

The within described device may be constructed at a small cost and will prove highly valuable. The reins are prevented from dropping out of the vehicle, as they frequently do when a person alights from the same, and becoming entangled beneath the horses feet. A horse also will not be so liable to start as the tubes C, being elastic they allow the reins to give or yield to the motions of the animals head, similar to the hand of the driver.

No care or thought is required on the part of the driver for the holder is ever ready.

Vi e would remark that friction rollers (a) are placed on the upper end of the case A, in order to protect the same from abrasion.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

The elastic tubes C, C, or their equiva lents placed within a case A, attached to the dash board, the reins being attached to the tubes and the whole arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

I. A. DUNWORTH. F. DUNWORTH.

Witnesses:

JOHN STEWART, RICHARD H. GRossINeHAM. 

